To become a thriving, profitable business again, as Bill Ford
readily acknowledges, the company still has challenges ahead, but
he says he has never seen it as focused and driven as it is today.
When he became CEO, in 2001, Ford was determined not only to turn
around a troubled company but also to make it greener: for
instance, he spearheaded the remake of the River Rouge plant, once
decaying but now a test lab for sustainable manufacturing
practices.
Ford's leadership on environmental and manufacturing issues
extends beyond his company. Vice chairman of Business Leaders for
Michigan (an executive leadership organization in Michigan) and
chairman of the Detroit Economic Club, he has used both platforms
to help shape the agenda for reviving US manufacturing
competitiveness, particularly through sustainable innovation and
technology.